Today's News

Robert Howeyrhowey@thelancasternews.com
Prior to the start of the 2011-12 high school basketball season, Lancaster High School junior star Sindarius Thornwell was named in the Elite 5 boys players by the S.C. Basketball Coaches Association.
Thornwell, a 6-5 guard-forward, proved to be that and more as he was recently named the Class AAAA boys Player of the Year by the SCBCA.

Staff Reports
WILLIAMSTON – The Andrew Jackson Lady Volunteers fell short in their hopes ofa extending their basketball season Friday night.
The Lady Vols, down by as many as 20 points in the first half, rallied to slice the gap to three only to drop a 51-42 loss to Palmetto High School in the second round of the Class AA Upper State girls basketball playoffs.
Bre Wright, who scored 13 points, netted seven straight points to close the AJ deficit to 45-42 with 41 seconds left.

DNR release
Antlers will abound throughout the Palmetto State as the search for new state record deer antlers gets underway during the S.C. Department of Natural Resources’ annual series of measuring sessions.
Each year during March, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) measures deer antlers throughout the state, with a major effort during the Palmetto Sportsmen’s Classic scheduled for March 23-25 at the State Fairgrounds in Columbia.

Christopher Sardellicsardelli@thelancasternews.com
Authorities are investigating what led to a 23-year-old volunteer firefighter’s death following a fall from a moving pickup truck early Saturday morning.
William Blackmon, of Honeycutt Road, died after he fell off the back of a truck, according to Lancaster County Deputy Coroner Marie Broome.
An autopsy was planned for Saturday, though his official cause of death was not known as of Saturday morning, Broome said.

Christopher Sardelli
csardelli@thelancasternews.com
A University of South Carolina Lancaster professor was severely injured after she was hit by a pickup truck late Thursday night.
USCL foreign languages professor Nathalie Davaut, 44, of Gastonia, N.C., was walking across Hubbard Drive near the university when she was struck at about 9 p.m., according to a Lancaster Police Department incident report.
The incident was also confirmed by John Rutledge, director of law enforcement and security for USCL.

I was very happy with the turnout for the S.C. Republican primary. The voters cast their ballots in almost record numbers.
Because South Carolina had a significant impact in the process of picking a GOP candidate, news reporters from all over were here. A reporter from CNN, Moni Basu, wrote an article I found extremely offensive, not only to the people of Lancaster County, but also the city of Lancaster. She asked the question, “How are finance and faith going to play a role in how you will vote?”

Christopher Sardellicsardelli@thelancasternews.com
Crouching down outside of a Twin Pines business early Wednesday afternoon, a crime scene investigator searched for clues only minutes after two men robbed the store at gunpoint.
Donning blue gloves, the investigator dusted for fingerprints along the front door of We Buy Gold, at 1427 Charlotte Highway. Nearby, the small store parking lot was crammed full of sheriff’s patrol cars and a crime scene unit van.

Christopher Sardellicsardelli@thelancasternews.com
Deputies arrested a Lancaster man on several charges after they were led on a high-speed chase through the county Tuesday morning.
John Jerrod Hill, 29, 337 Grace Ave., was arrested Feb. 14 and charged with failure to stop for blue lights, second offense, driving under suspension, third offense, habitual traffic offender for driving under suspension and resisting arrest.

Jesef Williamsjwilliams@thelancasternews.com
A local boxing legend will be at a Saturday event intended to teach more than punching techniques.
Cedric “Mean Man” Mingo, a Lancaster native who became a world boxing champion in the 1980s, will be at Sonic Drive In from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. that day.
The event, which includes a boxing demonstration and autograph session, is being held to honor Cedric Mingo Day – a declaration made 22 years ago by Lancaster Mayor Joe Shaw.
The official day is Feb. 17.